Shari's Sew Kind of Wonderful Sampler...

My friend, Shari, from New Jersey, made this amazingly beautiful Sew Kind of Wonderful sampler.

You can find the pattern, Curve It Up, here.

Shari used a Cotton & Steel line of fabrics.

 

Here are some close-ups of the blocks:
 

 

I tell you what - it was SO much fun quilting this quilt!

 

 

I quilted a soft swirl in the white background areas.

This allows Shari's blocks to "float".

I love floating blocks!

 

Mmmmm - so much motion!

 

 

I have the Sidekick ruler, created by the nice folks at Sew Kind of Wonderful, which I finally got to use.

 

A curvy Churn Dash block - my favorite traditional block.

 

Just a few straight lines....

 

 

Concentric circles in the circle block.

 

I love how Cotton & Steel's designers write a little message on their selvage edges. 

This is Shari's backing:

 

 

And.....here's my sampler! 

I know - one day I'll have more to show, but for now I just stare at these humble beginnings....

 

 

A sweet gift from Shari for me.

Quilter's don't usually get quilted gifts, but Shari outdid herself.

 

I love my table runner.

Thank you so much, sweet lady.

 

elk on my table!

My dear friend, Shauna - from Montana, gave me a huge chunk of this awesome elk fabric. 

 

 

 

We love our elk in Montana - so it was a perfect piece to make something out of it for my home.

I made this very simple table runner.

I quilted a tiny wave in the center and straight lines in the outer border. 

 

I used a brushed woven for the backing.

 

I love my very old wood dough bowl from Hungary.
 

 

 

It looks pretty good on my table runner...

 

 

 

These bowls were made for making bread. 

I don't make bread - so I keep my wooden spoons in it!

 

  

Thank you, Shauna, I love it!

 

 

 

Thanksgiving table runner

I wanted to make a simple table runner for Thanksgiving this year.

 

 

So I went to my Denyse Schmidt stash and pulled a couple of my favorite prints - actually, they are ALL my favorites!

They reminded me of leaves in the fall.

 

Here's my process:

I cut the center, 18" x 36".   (I didn't want to piece the backing)

The borders are cut 3" - I used 4 strips.  (again, I didn't want to piece the strips)

I quilted simple "long L's" in the border and small waves in the center.

 

 

I love the backing! 

 

 

 

Cute binding - I used 3 1/2 - 2.5" strips.
(it's from her Florence collection)

 

 

mmmmmmm -  pumpkin pie almonds - Thank you, Costco!

 

 

My little vintage glass jar holds my almonds all snuggly!

  

 

 I hope everyone can take a moment to express thanks for blessings in their lives. 

I am beyond grateful for my life.

Each of you bring joy into my life where we can share our gifts & talents.

Thank you, my friends.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

 

 

 

giveaway winner is Myra!

I was helping a student, ("hi" Christine), piece a Christmas tree skirt in an evening class.

She's reading the directions out loud and says, "...smash it with the iron." 

WHAT?

She asks me, "So.....do I just smash it with the iron?"

I thought she was kidding - she was NOT!

Read #25 - I'm watching the video right now.....

http://animasquilts.com/_videos/12.html

Jackie Robinson really does say SMASH! 

And she SMASHES it!!!!

(it actually made me jump)

All these years I've been using the word, "press".

I must be outdated!

 

 

 

Whew - Now for the giveaway....

I purchased this lovely Christmas Table Runner kit recently.

I know I won't get around to piecing it.

Would you like to have it?

It has very pretty batiks - everything you need is included; the pattern, top, backing and binding!

 

All you have to do is respond with an answer to this question:

What type of Christmas music do you listen to?

I'll pick a winner within the week!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 

CONGRATULATIONS to Myra!

She won the giveaway Christmas table runner kit.

Thank you all for playing along - it was so fun reading your comments about Christmas music.

Here is what Myra said:

 

MyraNovember 5, 2014 at 6:15 PM

SMASH IT, girl! LOL! I like traditional hymn Christmas music and also Celtic Thunder's version of Christmas songs

 

I will email  you, Myra, so I can get your mailing address.  Thanks!

One more table runner - I had to wait until after Christmas to post this one....it was a gift!

 

My sister-in-law, Carol, loves Sunflowers. 
I found this kit at Connecting Threads and just knew it would be perfect for her. 
My sweet friend, Trish of Notes Of Sincerity, pieced it for me. 
She does beautiful work! 
If you need someone to do a bit of piece work for you - Trish is your gal!

 

The back - perfect for the sunflower lovers in our lives.

The wildlife are starting to hang out in our backyard a lot lately.  I never get tired of watching them watch us!

We found an eagle convention going on down the road. 
There were at least a dozen of these amazingly beautiful birds just hanging out.
 

 

more table runners...

I watched this tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt company a few months ago and thought it would make some cute table runners.  (They have some GREAT tutorials!)

 

So I made two for two wonderful ladies in my life.

Hello, Erin & Brook!

They got them for Christmas.

 

 

These are super easy and super fun to make.

I just used some 2 1/2" squares I had in my scrap basket and a solid white for the background.

I quilted them both the same - love the tiny wavy design.

 

 

The backing is "Wrenly" by Valori Wells for Free Spirit. 

 

 

 (I couldn't bear to cut it up so it's a perfect backing).

 

Kind of like two table runners in one!